I've been communicating with the NGS Geodetic Advisor for the SW Region about this topic over the Spring and hope to discuss with him next week during a conference we will both be attending.

He has provided a lot of history and info on why there are so many published elevations, it is clearly a topic he is both professionally and personally interested in. In summary he makes two points:

- 14,500 ft is the most "defensible" value for Mt. Whitney using current benchmarks and datums, but the highest point of the peak is likely higher

- there will be new datums in 2022 so the references for both lat/long and elevation will be changing - Whitney and other elevations will be decreasing by (estimated) a little under 3 feet

I'll report back if I learn more.

Last edited by skiroc; 07/05/18 10:42 PM.